Fun Cookery Classes to try in Melbourne

Attracting top chefs and foodies alike, The Essential Ingredient is a gourmet pantry known for its unusual goods and fancy cookware. In addition, the shop has been running one of Australia’s most respected cooking schools since 1997. Presented by culinary experts the school runs interactive, hands-on workshops and baking workshops, as well as Chef’s Table events. With over 40 classes on offer, you can learn to prepare vegan dishes with Shannon Martinez of Smith & Daughters, master charcoal with Daniel Wilson of Huxtaburger and create one pot wonders with Nicky Riemer of Union Dining.

Renowned for their hands-on short courses, the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) offers over 25 comprehensive cooking classes—all of which are run in the city. Whether you’re looking to brush up on bread making, expand your culinary repertoire by learning how to cure, confit, poach and sous vide, seek to impress with an authentic paella and risotto or simply want to perfect a Christmas Roast, CAE has a class for you. There’s even a boot camp for beginners.

Nestled within South Melbourne Market, The Neff Market Kitchen holds cooking classes and master classes run by some of Melbourne’s best professional chefs. Whether you want to learn the secrets of sushi, host a Lebanese banquet or discover the tricks to cooking without a recipe, there’s a class that caters for it. The best part is that each session includes a meal afterwards and as the school is located next to a deli and fruit and veg vendors, you can stock up on all the produce you’ll need to practice your new skills.

Certified by Nonna, La Cucina di Sandra is a cooking demonstration and culinary feast where guests will learn the art of Italian cuisine. Set within the Richmond home of Sandra del Greco, you’ll be graciously welcomed before watching as she prepares traditional meals from 13 regions including Calabria, Puglia, Sardegna and Abruzzo. The informal classes run for four hours and include a three-course meal and a complimentary glass of vino. Sandra also runs Bespoke classes tailored for special occasions.

Appropriately named, Oasis Bakery is a Middle Eastern café and grocery which doubles as a cooking school that holds 90-minute classes on Wednesday mornings, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Join founder Marwa Makool as he imparts the simple techniques behind the recipes in his cookbook Yallateef! including Garlic and Chicken Fattoush, Eleven Minute Meals, Superfoods, Winter Soups, Saladiscious, BBQ and Wrap It!

Founded by Loretta and Daniel Bolotin, Free to Feed is a not-for-profit organization that assists refugees and new migrants by engaging them in food-based enterprises. Not only will you learn how to cook authentic dishes from the chef’s native country, but you will also hear their extraordinary stories. From Niro’s A Journey to Curry Heaven, to Hamed’s Persian Vegetarian Favourites and Nayran’s Welcome to Syria, these cooking classes will certainly add a dash of spice and pinch of culture to your day. Free to Feed holds pop-up cooking classes around Melbourne and offers home experiences.

Highly engaging, Spice Bazaar is the ideal place for beginners to get a hands-on taste of traditional cooking and with 20 cuisines on offer, there’s always something new to discover. Over the course of the session, you will learn to cook eight to nine dishes which come together to form a sharing banquet expertly matched with wine, so it’s best to arrive with an empty belly. From Empanadas, to Apple Tarte Tatin and Persian Lamb Kofta, your taste buds are in for a real treat.

Nellie Kerrison opened Relish Mama in 2009 with the simple intention of sharing her passion for food with others. Today, the school is noted as one of the best in Melbourne. Packed with flavour, the classes celebrate a range of cuisines including Thai, Moroccan, Spanish, Italian, Vietnamese, South East Asian, Greek, French, Turkish and Mexican. Among the most popular classes are festive Christmas classes and mid-week inspiration classes. While Nellie leads many of the sessions, guest chefs do drop in from time to time to divulge their own culinary wisdom.

For almost a decade, chocolate emporium Gânache has been indulging Melbournians with irresistible sweets and an extensive hot chocolate menu. Now chocoholics can treat themselves to a devilishly decadent selection of finger-licking classes including truffle making, a lesson in bespoke chocolate bars, a nougat and honeycomb workshop, a macaron course and two new classes: Seriously Salted Caramel 3 Ways and Chocolate Desert Creation.

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